Deputies say 92-year-old Clermont man who went missing drove himself to Michigan

October 1, 2010|By Anika Myers Palm, Orlando Sentinel

While Lake County deputies were looking close to home to find a 92-year-old man who went missing from his Clermont home Wednesday, he was miles away — more than 1,000 miles away.

Robert Rolfes drove himself to Michigan, sheriff's Lt. John Herrell said.

His sister, Carolyn Bremer, with whom he shares the Village Green Boulevard home, contacted authorities Thursday to say the two had argued and Rolfes had left the home about 9 p.m. Wednesday, a sheriff's incident report shows.

Bremer, who could not be reached Friday afternoon, told authorities her brother packed his clothes but did not take his daily medications or cell phone when he left the house. She also told deputies her brother suffers from dementia, although it never had been diagnosed, the report said.

Rolfes left home with just $40 in cash and a his credit card, the report said.

Deputies contacted a few of Rolfes' friends and checked his former address in the Emerald Lake subdivision in Clermont but did not find him.

Several hours after Bremer reported him missing, Patricia Hawkins, another one of Rolfes' sisters, heard a knock on her door in Gaylord, Mich., at 11 p.m. Thursday and opened the door to find her brother standing there.

After hearing that her brother was in Michigan, Bremer contacted deputies, who received confirmation from Michigan State Police that Rolfes was safe.

Hawkins told authorities that Rolfes went straight to bed after commenting about what a drive he had just made, Herrell said.

Gaylord is about 1,345 miles from Clermont — about a 21-hour drive, mostly along Interstate 75.

It's not unusual for people with dementia to wander, although the distance Rolfes traveled is a bit unusual, said Sharon Melton, director of programs and services for the Central and North Florida chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

"What usually stops them is they can't put gas in the car, they can't find a place to stay," said Melton.

Rolfes, who uses a pacemaker, could not be reached. He slept in Friday morning after his long drive, the Sheriff's Office said.